In 2008, the Delaware State Education Association conducted a debate with the three gubernatorial candidates: Jack Markell, Mike Protack, and John Carney. They filmed the entire event. At the time, Carney was the Lieutenant Governor, Markell was the State Treasurer, and Protack was (and still is) a pilot. Will Carney take the same stances he did in this debate? We all know Markell didn’t. A lot has changed in eight years…
This is the question that doesn’t seem to be on anybody’s mind, but it should be. It also makes all those letters going out to Democrat Primary Candidates in Delaware much easier to understand. Delaware Senator Bryan Townsend started the letter reveals today, and it was quickly revealed all the primary candidates got them. Sounds like a Chair of the Democrat party going rogue, right? Or maybe not. Why would Bryon Short drop out of the race months ago? He was endorsed by half the House Democrats and Governor Jack Markell last year. Sure, Townsend may have been racking up the campaign contributions, but Short seemed to have the political edge for the race. But he dropped out, all of a sudden to the shock of many.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton is running for President. To say she is the front-runner would be a bit of a misnomer. But a strong rumor in Delaware was that Jack really wanted to be her Secretary of Education. Like really, really bad. But if there is a chance she might not win, what’s a Jack to do? How about jumping into the race for John Carney’s seat in Congress? It keeps him in politics, it is still a lofty position, and he doesn’t have to pull a Murphy and go work for one of those dime-a-dozen education companies. We will know by July 12th if has any intentions. But given the fact that a) Bryon Short dropped out, b) all the candidates got their “think about it and drop out if you can” letters, c) the one to the Congressional candidates specifically says the words “like Bryon Short”, and d) it would be Jack’s logical next move if he isn’t sure the Hillster can pull it off.
Daniello’s letter ticked off a lot of candidates. Enough to cause self-doubt and angst? Probably not. But it does set up the chess board for Jack to enter, pissing off a lot of people in the Democrat party. Especially folks like Townsend. This wouldn’t be the first time Jack did something like this. Those who remember, Carney was the favorite in 2008 for Governor, until Jack went against the party and entered the race. But I hope the outcome is different should he choose to run. I would love to see Jack in a primary… and lose! I’m sure the DOE will have some openings by then!
Today is Leap Day. Every four years, except for a millennium, Earth adds an extra day to its calendar. Apparently, it takes 365.25 days for Earth to revolve around the sun. To make up for that .25, we get an extra day every four years. It is also Superman’s birthday. I remember four years ago, when my son attended a Delaware charter school, a classmate of his had a birthday on Leap Day. He was turning two that year since he only had two birthdays. The things kids believe!
My first Leap Year was 1972. I was two, so I don’t remember anything. In 1976, I was in Kindergarten in Syracuse, New York with Mr. McKinney. I wanted to be a detective when I was older. 1980 brought us the Lake Placid Winter Olympics when the USA beat Russia. I didn’t watch the final game because I was salivating over my Wacky Pack stickers. I wanted to be a doctor when I was older. In 1984, I was most likely not doing what I was supposed to be doing: homework, studying, chores. What can I say, I was a rebellious young teenager! My dreams of becoming a doctor went up in smoke when I saw an elderly man have a heart attack in Stop & Shop one day. 1988 was my Senior year of high school. It was a good year, but also full of angst wondering what the future was going to hold. I was going to major in business. In 1992, I was in my final year at community college looking forward to transferring to Cabrini College in the fall. I was going to finish college by 1994 with an English/Communications degree. In 1996, I had just moved to Sweden. Literally. I had sold most of my comic book collection and lived in a small town outside of Stockholm called Tullinge. I didn’t work the first couple months I lived there. There was no leap year in 2000 because it was a millennium year, but I was working at Chase Mortgage doing loss mitigation work. 2004’s Leap Day was definitely full of curiosity. My wife was due with our son in a month and I couldn’t wait to see him! Still at Chase. In 2008, I was unemployed on Leap Day. Luckily, it didn’t last long. 2012, the last Leap Day before this one, I was working two jobs and rarely had time for anything outside of work. I was at my current job and also working as a paraprofessional at Campus Community School. Which brings us to 2016 and today.
My point behind all of this, nobody knows for sure what they want to do with their life. Some do, those who have exceptional drive and motivation. Not everyone has that. But our Governor and the Delaware DOE seem to think every child should know what they are going to do when they are “career ready”. If not, the test scores will determine that and they will make sure you are put on a fast track to that career. It isn’t right. People need the freedom to stretch their own wings and figure things out for themselves.
The Season Of Myths 